Sixteen members of the housekeeping staff were told not to return to work now that the hospital is outsourcing to a company called Xanitos, the article noted.

In order to keep their jobs, the workers had to pass a background check, a drug and nicotine test and an English test: Two workers were fired for failing the background check, two more failed the drug test and 12 could not communicate in English, the article stated.

Marie Fortune, who is battling breast cancer, said she believes her Creole accent is why she was fired.

According to the article, the union representing the workers has filed a federal lawsuit against St. Mary''s Medical Center''s parent company, Tenet Healthcare.

The lawsuit claims the removal of employees violates a previous contract with the hospital, the article added.